Fresh Discovery

The Cause:
This week has a two part cause.

You may remember our first weekend here Penn State had something called Fresh Start where all freshmen could volunteer during their first Saturday here. I decided it would be a good way to learn more about my community so I signed up.

At the event, we were put with a random group of other Freshmen and then sent to one of the many possible locations they had set up. My group ended up at the Discovery Space Children's Science Museum on Foster Avenue downtown.

This museum is a hidden gem. From the outside, the museum appears like any other apartment building or office space.

However, when you walk inside it's like a science Disney World for kids. For those of you from outside of Philly, it is just like a mini Franklin Institute. For those of you not from the Philly area, it is basically a "please-touch" museum where kids are able to learn basic science techniques and topics through hands on experiences.

Franklin Institute- Photo By BadDadRadio.com

The Discovery Space Museum aims to teach and spark science interest in children in the State College area. This includes daily admittance, special programs, and camps at the museum.

What I Did:
When I first got to Discovery Space Museum the museum was closed. The people there told us about the purpose of the museum and then let us explore a bit. To say the least, my entire group's inner kid came out. We all explored the entirety of the museum and played with all of the displays, actually curious about the science behind some of them. One of the rooms was focused on electricity and had a giant Lite-Bright in it. We decided to show our Penn State Pride with it.

After exploring for a bit, we helped move things outside for the event the museum was holding in a local park. As an end of the summer event, the museum was hosting a STEM- science, technology, engineering, and math- day. Different vendors, such as 3D printer companies, came to the event to promote their companies but it was mostly local STEM related companies showing kids what their companies do. 

I helped people set up, direct kids to stations, and just help out wherever I was needed. One man I helped was creating community ice molds for the ice festival held here over our winter break. It was really interesting to watch the vacuum process to make the ice molds and see the kids and adults amazed by it.

The event was also a place where kids who participated in the museum's camp could race the electric cars they made throughout the summer. I helped the kids fix their cars with hot glue, helped make the race track, and supervised a few races. 

The park the STEM event took place in

What I Learned:
During this event, I learned how important it is to inspire little kids. The kids at the event were so interested in their cars and everything else going on. Had they not been introduced to the world of science they may have spent the summer inside. Who knows, one of these kids could be one of the most important scientists of the future. Without learning new things while young there is no way to learn what you are passionate about and want to learn more about.

I also learned about the importance of community. We live in the center of a great community here that we don't really realize being so absorbed in our school work and lives on campus. Seeing the young kids reminded me that we are role models to them, as well as to the slightly older kids, and we should show them it is important to be involved in the community.

Everyone I met at the event was very community focused. People from across the community showed up and were happy to see their neighbors there as well. The man I helped with the ice molds really made this point clear to me. The idea of the molds were to make one and then pass the mold to a neighbor until everyone in the community had an ice sculpture for the festival. He really encouraged everyone who got a mold to pass it on. He showed me how much he loves his community based on the way he talked to everyone who came up to his stand and the way he took the time to make sure the kids understood how the process worked.

After seeing this event and meeting people like this man I want to get involved in the State College community. We have a community that supports the university and we should support it right back.

Music for the Soul

The Cause:
For the last few years of his life, my grandfather lived in an assisted living which was attached to a nursing home, the entire complex is called Chandler Hall. Chandler Hall is a community with Quaker values created to help the elderly get more assistance as they need it.

I would visit my grandfather at least once a week and always see other residents alone without family just sitting around. Sometimes there would be music on in the common space and we would walk into the room to see my grandfather, in his late nineties. dancing with some of the nurses or other residents, whoever he could get to dance. The other residents would always be smiling while the music of their time was on and would sing or clap along.

Not at Chandler but my Grandpa and Mom dancing

What I Did:
Chandler Hall often has activities for its members to participate in everyday and I decided I wanted to hold a free concert for any residents who wanted to come. Organizing a concert was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I had to communicate with Chandler Hall, find musicians that wanted to participate, choose the music based on the instrumentation I could get, organize and run rehearsals, make programs, and run the actual event. However, I loved it so much I went back and did several other concerts.

What I Learned:
While planning this event, I learned a lot about communication, as I had to talk with someone at Chandler all via email as well as plan with all the musicians when they could meet. I also learned about running an efficient rehearsal that allowed us to cover the material while actually improving on the material. This also included learning how to get the respect and attention from my friends that was required for the event to succeed.

At the event, I also learned about the power of music. When the residents came to the concerts they weren't necessarily thrilled to be there but they wanted to do something so they came. It was easy to see how the music changed the atmosphere and the audience ended up really enjoying the music, especially when it was tunes from their time or Christmas tunes everyone knows. By the time they left, everyone was smiling and glad they came.

Photo By: Jesse Kruger

Also, I learned about giving others the opportunity to perform their talents. Through the concerts, I was able to give my friends a chance to solo or do small group performances, which allowed them to showcase different pieces they were working, which they may have otherwise never gotten to perform.

Building off this, I learned about the importance of sharing your experiences of giving back with others. The first concert, we really didn't know what to expect. However, everyone who performed in the concert wanted to come back for the next concert. They told me how much they enjoyed the experience of helping the residents enjoy their day just a little bit more. At the end, we got to talk with some of the residents, which brings me to my final point.

Some of the residents told us we reminded them of their grandchildren, who they don't see get to see often, who play instruments. This was heartbreaking to me since I was there for weekly visits to see my grandfather. I beg of you, as your family members get older, don't leave them alone. Go visit and take them somewhere different. They were there for you your whole life, so don't desert them when they need you the most.

Have you ever done anything like this? Please share below!

Walking for a Cure

The Cause:
Twice, I have volunteered at Walk MS, a 5K to raise awareness for Multiple Sclerosis and raise money for research to understand and cure MS. The 5K I volunteered at is one of many across the country. Started in 1988, over 330,000 people now participate in Walk MS 5Ks each year. Through its 5Ks and other events the Walk MS foundation has raised over $920 million dollars for its cause.

Beyond thoroughly enjoying working at this event, I have a personal connection as to why I participate as a volunteer at these 5Ks. Both my aunt and close friend's mom are fighting MS. They are two of the strongest women I know and I would like to support them in anyway I can, even if this just means raising awareness of the disease, creating a community for MS patients, and helping raise money for research.

What I Did:
The two times I volunteered I did different things. The first time I worked at the 5K, I was at a water and snack stop where the walkers could refresh. I directed people which way to go for what, which amused the walkers and by the end of the day I had no voice left.

The second time I volunteered, I helped set up the starting and finishing line, which turns into a dance party zone, prepare and hand out food, cheer the walkers on to the finish line, and hand out medals. While waiting for walkers to arrive at the finish line the volunteers got to know each other better and had a little fun.

When I was cheering, I was with some other volunteers in a tunnel so our voices echoed. We would start a quiet, slow chant and get louder and faster, do the wave, and anything else we could think of to get the walkers to smile and make it through the last stretch.

At the very end of the day it was our turn to break everything down until the following year.

What I Learned:
Most of the people that walk in Walk MS 5Ks are people with MS, their support group, and those walking in honor or memory of a loved one. Working these events taught me about how important a strong support group is. If you have loved ones willing to fight alongside you, through anything, nothing can beat you.

As this video from the National MS Society shows, the 5Ks are all about a time to build community and support those fighting the disease.

Beyond medicine having the will to fight is what will enable someone to win their battle and having their family and friends behind them helps make this possible. Most people walking the 5K are wearing a shirt that is part of a larger group showing who they are supporting in their fight.

Throughout the 5K day, the foundation works to build a larger community by having activities where you can make signs to say who you are supporting, share your story, or leave messages of support for those fighting.

Another lesson I learned volunteering at the 5K is how important perseverance is. The men and women with MS who were walking were some of the most determined people I have ever seen. Some of them walked the entire 5K with a cane or some kind of support but still pushed to make it through, with their family and friends by their side. There were also some people pushing wheelchair bound people through the entire 5K so they too could experience the walk for a cure. Perseverance became particularly important in the second 5K I volunteered at because it turned out to be significantly longer than a 5K because whoever mapped it out messed up, yet the walkers still made it.

This determination goes hand in hand with the last lesson I learned- sometimes you just need that one final push. When I was acting as a cheerleader in the tunnel we could see how tired everyone looked as they approached us. Once we cheered for them and said just up this last hill they seemed to get a final burst of energy and smile as the made one last push to get to the finish line. Some people told us they heard us cheering from pretty far away and were excited to reach us as they approached us.

All the walkers needed was that tiny reminder of why they were there and that people were supporting them in order to complete the race with a smile on their face.

The lesson of perseverance and a final push carry into every day life. In order to succeed in something that may seem impossible, all you really need to do is have a little faith in yourself and push forward. Also, sometimes its nice to have that final push when you don't know you need it. So, next time you see someone trying hard or looking like they are almost read to give up, give them some words of encouragement to help them through their race.